The Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) has set up seven Safe Haven Centres for people living in areas that are likely to flood.
These centres have tents, food, other supplies, and are ready to temporarily house people at risk from floods.
The head of KADSEMA, Usman Hayatu Mazadu, shared this news during a meeting in Kaduna about how prepared everyone is for the 2025 flood forecast.
“We have created seven centres with all the needed supplies to move people quickly if floods happen,” Mazadu said.
He said it’s important for everyone to work together when preparing for and responding to disasters.
According to him, handling disasters isn’t just one agency’s job—it needs the help of all involved parties.
“Everyone has a role to play when it comes to disaster preparation,” he added.
Mazadu also talked about what the agency has done so far, including visiting at-risk communities and getting supplies ready ahead of time.
“In the last six weeks, we have worked with others to raise awareness in areas that might flood,” he explained.
At the meeting, they officially launched the 2025 Flood Emergency Operation and Response Team and opened the Emergency Coordination Centre.
Stakeholders at the meeting also discussed how ready they are, pointed out any weaknesses, and worked together on ways to improve.
Mazadu said listening to each stakeholder is important so that the response to flooding can be well-organized and effective.
“We will hear from each group about how prepared they are. This helps us see what’s missing and fix it together,” he said.
He repeated that Governor Uba Sani is fully committed to protecting people and their property. He said the government is serious about safety and that KADSEMA has a key role in disaster response.
“I want to repeat the governor’s promise: he will do everything possible to protect Kaduna citizens,” Mazadu said.
He urged everyone to stop just talking and start working together, so that 2025 can be a year of strength, not loss.
“Let’s stop talking and start acting, so we can face 2025 with strength, not regret,” he added.
The meeting was attended by important guests, including development partners, government representatives, emergency workers, civil society leaders, journalists, traditional rulers, and other public officials.
